Tag Archives: pregnancy
Benefits of Pregnancy Workout
For the superstitious, pregnancy entails a seemingly endless of do’s and don’ts, many of which are even unfounded. There are beliefs that a pregnant woman should not be allowed to work, lift anything, or walk around much, let alone doing exercise or pregnancy workout, because she might have miscarriage.
Strenuous activities may affect pregnancy, but then, working out during a pregnancy term does not necessarily have to be laborious. There are varied forms and levels of exercises designed especially for the expectant one. All she needs to do prior to planning a regimen is to consult with her doctor on which one(s) fit her. Unless it is hampered by complications or ailment, exercise or pregnancy workout should be a healthy activity, for both mother and fetus, providing all the benefits of a regular regimen and some more, such as:
Benefits of Pregnancy Workout:
Improved mood and reduced fatigue. Expectant women usually experience low-level tiredness during their first trimester, but a little push of simple routine can help a lot in overcoming fatigue and fighting nausea, stiff muscles, stress, and weight gain. A good workout can also reduce mood swings, prevent depression, enhance self-image, and provide a sense of control.
Improved sleep. One of the most common complaints of pregnant women is that they have difficulty sleeping through the night. But studies and other mothers who worked out on a regular basis during their pregnancy said that exercise allowed them to get rid of excess energy that consequently made them so tired and induced them to sleep and make them rest well. However, exercise should be done at least three hours before going to bed; otherwise, it could be too energizing.
Manage pregnancy constipation and hemorrhoids. Some pregnant women also complain about having constipation and hemorrhoids. This is because their bodies as well as their eating habits undergo many changes. But then again, this problem can be remedied by doing some exercises. Women who have tried it affirm that even a 30-minute brisk walk or a 10-minute stroll considerably improved their bowel movement.
Increased energy level. Appropriate exercise makes the joints strong, relieves backaches by strengthening the muscles, improves posture, and boosts the cardiovascular system. Besides, it enhances the brain to release endorphins, those hormone-like substances that are responsible in producing a natural feeling of elation and well being. An improved circulation considerably alleviates certain conditions like constipation, hemorrhoids, leg cramps, varicose veins, and swelling of the ankles.
Prevent gestational diabetes. Proper pregnancy workout is a helpful therapy for those who are prone to develop gestational diabetes, a condition that appears only during pregnancy and which usually starts between the twenty-fourth and twenty-eighth weeks of pregnancy.
Facilitate childbirth and healthy baby. Studies have shown that mothers who did regular workouts are more likely to have shorter and less exhaustive labor and delivery, and require lesser medical interventions during labor. They also tend to recover from the strains of childbirth quickly. Likewise, their babies have healthier weights at birth.
Quick post-partum recovery. Exercise promotes faster physical recovery after childbirth and helps them get back into shape quick.
It should be noted, however, that not all pregnant women are naturally fit to do workouts. There are women who have high-risk pregnancy, or are prone to pre-term labor. Therefore, their regimen should be closely monitored by their respective physicians or health care provider.
So now you know that there’s tons of benefits from pregnancy workout, I believe every pregnant woman should pick up a simple pregnancy workout and start doing it gently one at a time.
Factors to Consider Before Getting Pregnant
Deciding to have a baby is something worth thoroughly discussing about between couples because it involves life and responsibilities. Aside from physical preparations, there are salient points that couples need to be considered in planning for a family.
Physical and mental health
One of the top priorities, if not the first, to consider before getting pregnant, is to determine whether or not both would-be parents are physically fit to have a baby, because this factor has a bearing on the future offspring. It could be that the mother is not fit to be pregnant due to some health conditions. It would also be a futile attempt to forego medical consultation when, in the first place, the man has a problem with his sperm fertility. Likewise, both parents should avoid unnecessary stress because it can affect both their physical and emotional health. Studies also show that women suffering from depression tend to have fertility problems. Besides, a clinically depressed woman is generally unable to take care of herself, so much less can she be expected to look after her baby.
Lifestyle
Couples who smoke, drink excessively, and take illegal drugs must decide on quitting these vices if they want to have a baby because these can remarkably lessen the possibility of getting pregnant, and most likely to cause premature birth, miscarriage, and low birth weight babies. Besides, smoking adversely affects the fertility of both male and female. The would-be mother should also minimize her caffeine consumption because her body might not be able to absorb iron needed in pregnancy.
Financial status of the couple
Parents, who already have a child, or children, should consider whether or not they can still afford to have one more addition to the family. Likewise, new couples must answer the question “Are we ready yet?” since it is the parents’ responsibilities to provide for the basic needs of their offspring, such as food, clothing, shelter, and education. In other words, adding a new member to the family involves budget until that member would be capable of living on his own.
Child-rearing and child care
Couples, especially first time parents, should be prepared to enter into the family life. It is natural for them to have different views on child-rearing considering that they, too, have been brought up in different manners; but as a couple, they must agree and maintain a common ground on how to rear their own child. Issues that are necessary to discuss about should include discipline, values, nutrition, and physical activity. Religion is also worth discussing about, especially if the couple come from different faith denominations, because this might become an issue of contention if not yet agreed upon. Moreover, if both parents are working, they should discuss about who will take the full time duty in looking after the baby, and they should arrange for it before the baby comes.
Family time
This factor is very essential in building a wholesome family. The couple, especially if both have careers, should make room for quality time with their child and with each other. It is a different story to just leave all childcare to a crèche or a baby sitter because a child needs more than economic comfort.
Since the family is the basic unit of society, it is vital that couples work together at setting a stable and loving environment for their children to produce good and responsible citizens.You may also consider finding out on pregnancy signs in more details.
Fertility Foods and Healthy Pregnancy
Pregnancy may be an exciting and important event to a couple, particularly to a woman. But many times, it also brings with it so much ado – from hormonal changes, morning sickness, exercise, to food and dieting. And so is preparation for getting pregnant. It requires tremendous effort to set the body, the food she eats, the mood, and, to a certain extent, including the environment itself, just to prepare for pregnancy. A woman’s nutrition, for example, is a very important factor to consider when one is bent on getting a boost to fertility because it does not only involve the mother, but also the well being of the baby she conceives. Having a healthy diet during pregnancy spells a healthier, happier, and smarter baby.
Experts have identified particular foods that boost fertility and ensure a healthy pregnancy and baby.
Cod liver oil. This is found to be a powerful fertility food that boosts energy, libido, muscle growth, brain power, and general health. It is an abundant source of Vitamins A, B, and D, arachidonic acid, and DHA that are essential to reproduction and for preventing birth defects.
Vitamin A is known to promote healthy fertility in men and women, and an essential micronutrient during pregnancy and also in early childhood because of its role in visual function. It is involved in the cell to cell communication, ensuring that the cells and tissues develop normally as the foetus progresses, and promotes healthy hair and skin. The effective way to get Vitamin A is through animal sources, such as, liver, milk, butter, cheese, and whole eggs. It can also be found in dark green and yellow vegetables, like broccoli, spinach, carrots, squash and others.
Vitamin D, on the other hand, is vital in pregnancy because it promotes growth and development of the baby’s teeth and bones, aid in the absorption of calcium and phosphate, and lowers the risk of preeclampsia, rickets, and other musculoskeletal and health problems, lower bone density, and smaller babies.
Maca. Scientifically known as Lepidium Meyenii, maca is a tuberous perennial plant that can be found in the high altitudes of the Andean Mountains. Its root is found to be a potent food that increases libido and enhances hormonal balance vital in maintaining fertility. Maca is a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids; it is also an effective immune system booster.
Royal jelly. This is a thick, very nutritious substance secreted by the hypo-pharyngeal glands of the working bees that serve as food for the young larvae and the larvae that transform into queen bees. It is found to be very rich in proteins and 8 essential amino acids, important fatty acids, sterol, sugars, phosphorous compounds, and acetylcholine.
Studies show that royal jelly contains a complex compound that activates the gland, stabilizes the reproductive systems of men and women, and is an effective supplement for people who want to get pregnant, as it triggers an increase in libido, and maintains the health of sperm and eggs. Besides, royal jelly is a beneficial food supplement to fight against impotency, infertility, chronic fatigue, hormonal imbalance, and other health conditions.
Eggs and Fish Eggs. These are considered fertility foods as they provide superior nutrition and protein. Eggs and wild fish eggs or caviar are high in Omega-3 fatty acids. Eating two eggs daily can help in having a healthy placenta, healthy baby, at the same time strengthening the bag of waters around the baby to avoid premature rupture of the membranes. Eggs and fish, like salmon and tuna, are high in calcium, thus ensuring strong bones, especially during pregnancy.
Organ meats, such as liver, heart, and kidney are seen as potent fertility foods that stimulate blood flow to the reproductive organs because of its blood-building power.
Tea. Research has found that women who regularly drink tea have a greater chance of getting pregnant. Green tea and orange pekoe tea enhance fertility because they contain a high level of antioxidants that boost a healthy immune system.
Nevertheless, what is most important is that a couple should maintain a nutrient-packed diet and also fertility foods to have a healthy and successful pregnancy.
Coping up as Single Parent
For some reasons or another, it is inevitable for many parents to be thrust into situations, either by choice or by circumstances, where they have to raise their children single-handedly. Broken marriages, death of a spouse, and personal choice to remain single parents without entering into the bond of marriage are common reasons for single parenthood. Statistics reveal that the number of single parents worldwide is constantly on the rise. For example, in a census conducted in 2010, Korea showed that over a million of households were run by single parents. While in the United Kingdom, 26 percent of all families are led by people of the same status, and; in the United States, more than 13 million are single parents. Of these single parents, 83 percent are women. Furthermore, statistics show that 80 percent of the single mothers are employed, of whom 50 percent work full-time and 30 percent work part-time.
No matter how one gets into this situation, single parenting, specifically for first timers, is definitely an arduous and physically and emotionally-draining reality. It is no trivial matter to be juggling two major tasks, that of a caring, gentle mother and a providing father, all at the same time. Not only that. It could also take a heavy toll on the single parent’s professional as well as personal life. Going through the situation is most difficult during the first few months or years because of the unprecedented activities and decisions a single parent has to undertake. Since parenting alone can be so demanding and stressful, it is during this period, therefore, that a single mother or single father needs support the most.
Fortunately, there are organizations and fora that are particularly set up for the purpose of providing moral, emotional, financial, psychological, and other forms of support to single parents. These organizations are usually composed of single parents themselves, family members, friends, and supporters who decide to group together, either formally or informally. Support groups play very important role in a single parent’s life because it is where a single mother or single father can obtain encouragement and understanding from members. Group members volunteer to provide baby-sitting service when necessary, share their own experiences for others to learn from, and ultimately help each other get back on their feet again. Besides, these groups open avenues where new single parents may gain or expand their social circles, obtain assistance, or gather vital information in getting government support, employment arrangements, and other services.
It is advisable that new single parents joined any of these particular groups to somehow ease their burden and gain helpful insights about coping up and effective child rearing in a new set-up. Talking with fellow single parents can somehow give them a feeling of assurance that they are not alone; that they can raise their children properly without a partner, and; that they merit respect as parents and as individual persons.
Moreover, joining any of these support groups benefits not only the single parents themselves, but it also allows their children the chance to interact with their peers so that they eventually boost their own morale knowing that they are not alone.
Overcoming the Discomfort of Morning Sickness
Studies show that around 50 to 90 percent of pregnant women experience discomfort brought about by morning sickness, especially during their first trimester. One in five women, may even carry this discomfort through to her second trimester, and fewer do have it during the entire duration of pregnancy.
Morning Sickness
Morning sickness, which is alternately referred to as nausea, vomiting, or pregnancy sickness, is a condition that, although no one has yet established its exact cause, is believed to be due to a combination of physical and metabolic factors, such as rapid increase in oestrogen and progesterone levels, alterations in blood pressure, and changes in carbohydrate metabolism. Some experts believe that psychological stress, such as depression and anxiety, loss of appetite and fatigue usually go with morning sickness. Even as morning sickness is typically severe during the early part of the morning, it should not be a cause for alarm as it neither harms the pregnant woman nor her unborn baby because the fetus is properly secured in its sac of amniotic fluid.
However, she should not put up with unrelenting morning sickness, known as hyperemesis gravidarum or HG, because this can considerably affect her daily routine and eventually lead to dehydration and weight loss, and therefore, requires hospitalization and application of intravenous nutrition. Although studies reveal that only a negligible one in every 1,000 pregnant women is affected by hyperemesis gravidarum, it is still best to be vigilant about it since HG can cause electrolyte instability, too much depression and anxiety, malnourishment of the fetus, and even weaken vital organs like the liver, heart, kidneys, and brain.
Pregnant women, who suffer from morning sickness, are therefore, advised to take some measures to cope with such a discomfort, such as:
Eating some dry, salty crackers before getting out of bed in the morning to reduce nausea;
Taking small but frequent meals throughout the day, preferably those which are high in carbohydrates and protein; but she should neither be too full nor empty. She should also refrain from eating fatty and spicy foods;
Eating cold food. Since morning sickness is usually worsened by the strong smell of food emitted by cooking, a pregnant woman may have to refrain from cooking or preparing food and go for cold foods instead, which produce less odour;
Drinking enough fluids throughout the day, especially in between meals rather than during meal time, works for many pregnant women. Ginger – either prepared as ginger ale, adding freshly grated ginger into a cup of hot water, or as gingersnaps – is found to be an effective relief from nausea;
Food supplements. Unless it is prescribed by her physician, a pregnant woman should not take any kind of drugs. Although Vitamin B6 supplements have been found to be effective in reducing morning sickness, taking a dosage of more than 200 milligrams per day may cause adverse effects.
Getting plenty of rest, wearing loose clothes and acupressure wrist bands may also be of help. Studies reveal that an acupressure wrist band activates the acupressure point on the inner portion of the wrist and causes to lessen the degree of nausea.
Nevertheless, if these measures do not alleviate the discomfort of morning sickness, the pregnant woman needs to consult with her physician for other remedies and also the symptoms of pregnancy.
Varied Ways to Decide on Baby’s Gender
May it be for personal preferences, cultural beliefs, or social pressures, parents always have varied reasons for deciding on their upcoming babies’ gender. Perhaps the most ancient technique to determine a baby’s gender is the Chinese birth calendar.
Ever since, the Chinese culture has always preferred a male gender because he can carry the family’s surname throughout his lifetime, while a girl cannot. When a girl marries, she is considered to be her husband’s family member. Besides, a boy is much stronger and can be expected to work harder than a girl. In the ancient times, it was believed that a boy’s ancestors were hunters. And, because of this particular preference, the ancient Chinese devised a birth calendar or gender prediction chart to guide couples who want to have a baby. The chart works by finding the mother’s age based on the Chinese lunar calendar and the month of her conception; wherever the intersection of these two points fall shows the gender of the baby. The mother’s age is computed as her current age plus one more extra year, which represents the time she was in her own mother’s womb.
This birth calendar was formed after many years of collected data and is said to be a hundred percent accurate. Evidence of such a calendar, which was discovered on a scroll more than seven centuries ago, is now kept at the Beijing Institute of Science. Even up to the present, the Chinese birth calendar is used by many. Not a few non-Chinese couples also use this calendar because some people testified to its accuracy.
Aside from the Chinese gender prediction chart, there are the age-old tales and myths that have been passed on from one generation to the next. One of the prevailing myths says that the baby’s gender depends on the amount of morning sickness a woman suffers during pregnancy. Accuracy of these tales, however, still remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, a couple can do some practical methods of deciding on their baby’s gender by scheduling their sexual intercourse according to the woman’s ovulation period. If they want a boy, it is advisable to engage in sexual intercourse as early as 24 hours before ovulation to no more than 12 hours after ovulation because during this period the Y chromosomes, which are smaller, weaker, but faster, tend to get to the egg first. If the couple, however, decides for a girl, they must have their sexual intercourse three days or more before ovulation because the X chromosomes, which are bigger, stronger, but slower, will now have accumulated when the egg is released, while the Y chromosomes will have died, considering its weak characteristic. Learn more about pregnancy symptoms as well to assist you in the future.
Other possible method that a couple may try is douching the vaginal environment with water and vinegar shortly before intercourse to make it more acidic and kill the weaker Y chromosomes first, leaving a plentiful amount of the X chromosomes, and thus, favoring a baby girl; or, they may douche it with water and baking soda to make the environment more alkaline and favor for a baby boy.
In addition, position in sexual intercourse and depth of penetration matter in determining the baby’s gender. If the couple wants to have a boy, a deep penetration is advisable because it deposits the sperm closer to the egg, allowing the faster chromosomes the advantage of fertilizing the egg first. A shallow penetration favors for a baby girl. Also, a high sperm counts is more likely to favor for a boy.
Having orgasms during sexual intercourse would likely produce a baby boy because the contraction that goes with an orgasm pushes the sperm up and into the cervix, allowing the male chromosomes the advantage of fertilizing the egg first. Besides, orgasms stimulate the body to produce substances that make the vaginal environment more alkaline. No orgasm is likely to produce a baby girl.
On the other hand, couples may also submit themselves to medical tests for safe and surer results. Perhaps there is nothing more accurate than the medical experts’ advice or findings. Ultrasound is seen to be one of the most frequently used, safe, and precise computerized technique that can be done at any stage of pregnancy to find out a baby’s gender. It would be most accurate, however, when the ultrasound is done between the eighteenth and twenty-sixth week of pregnancy.
A couple may also try amniocentesis, a prenatal diagnostic test done on a pregnant woman, particularly on one who is at higher risk of chromosomal abnormalities like Down syndrome. Through the same test, a baby’s gender can also be determined.
Expectant Mother’s Option
Choosing a doctor and a place to give birth are part of the entire preparation process of having a baby. Even as early as the onset of pregnancy when pregnancy symptoms are visible, many women concern themselves on who will attend to them, where to find the appropriate care provider, and on how to obtain the best possible care for themselves and for their upcoming babies. Most often, family members, relatives, and friends may give varied suggestions and recommendations, but the best choice usually depends on what makes the pregnant woman feel most comfortable. A woman may feel at ease and readily opens up to a care provider who respects her wishes, shares the same philosophy, or understands and supports her preference of childbirth and who is ready to help her fulfil such preference. At the same time, the place to give birth matters a lot for most, if not all, expectant women. A woman may prefer a place where she feels safe and comfortable with the quality of service she is given, including her relationship with the care givers; properly informed about the process she has to undertake, and; allowed to participate in the decision-making about care. In order to obtain all these, it is necessary to do some inquiries about both the care provider and the place of birth.
For care providers, she may choose from among an obstetrician/gynaecologist, a family doctor, a certified nurse or midwife, or a doula. All of these professionals, except a doula, are certified to give prenatal care and assistance in giving birth.
A doula may not provide a type of prenatal care, but she is trained in giving non-medical support to pregnant women and their families during pregnancy, childbirth, and even after birth. Because a doula understands all aspects of birth, she can advise the pregnant woman about the intricacies of parenthood and the different aspects of child care. She may even suggest about breastfeeding. Although a doula is not trained to handle women with high risk pregnancies, she is preferred by many women to help them through natural childbirth, home birth, or water birth because of her expertise in the field.
An obstetrician/gynaecologist is professionally trained in the field of prenatal care, high-risk pregnancy, labour, birth, and after childbirth care. He or she is an expert in handling both normal and complicated pregnancies. Besides, an OB/GYN is certified to diagnose and treat gynaecological disorders since he or she has a specialized study in the medical field of obstetrics and gynaecology. An obstetrician normally recommends delivering babies in a hospital where access to medical intervention is immediately accessible.
However, a pregnant woman may not be able to establish a consistent relationship with an OB/GYN because this practitioner normally works with a group, which means she may be seeing different doctors every time she goes in for an appointment. Besides, many of the OB/GYN are male and may not fully understand pregnancy from a woman’s perspective, consequently making her feel uncomfortable about discussing personal circumstances.
On the other hand, a woman may also choose a family physician (FP) to assist in her pregnancy. Since a family physician is already well-acquainted with the medical and health history of the family, he or she must have established a certain personal relationship and gained the confidence of family members. The FP becomes a friend who knows the pregnant woman well, in whom the latter can confide her personal circumstances, and from whom she can expect emotional support. Besides, a pregnant woman can expect her family physician to give her detailed information on her clinical status and care, and assist her in labour and delivery in a hospital since she is trained in this field.
Aside from an OB/GYN and an FP, a woman may opt for the services of a midwife, who is professionally trained to give a thorough care especially for low-risk pregnancies, childbirth, and postpartum. A midwife may perform delivery either in a hospital, at a birthing centre, or at home, depending on the pregnant woman’s preference. Giving birth at home for low-risk pregnancy allows the woman to labour and deliver in a private and comfortable surrounding without the routine interruption of hospital staff.
Home birth, however, is contested by some sectors on the premise that it is not safe because of the lack of facilities that a hospital has.
Pregnancy and Joint ache
Many pregnant women grumble of back ache and many others complain of pubic, pelvic, hip, knee and many different joint pains especially during pregnancy. There are lots of techniques and methods to help a person with pregnancy and joint ache such as relaxation of muscles, joints and tendons occurs during pregnancy to help facilitate childbirth.
Your hips must loosen up and extend in order for labor preparation of your baby. Your body, however, does not distinguish well between creating relaxation in one area or in another. It is, unluckily a general progression any pregnant women will go through. The joints relaxation will be completely different in every person.
Hormonal changes are the main reason of this joint ache. Hormones play a part in stimulating the relaxation on your muscles everywhere in your body. Weight gain also can place extra strain on your joints.
Postural changes play an important role in the joint ache. A person’s centers of gravity will changes vastly during pregnancy. This will then causes shifting around your body which then causes join discomfort. Stress adds tension to your body and can contribute to pain anywhere.
Pain, puffiness, inflexibility, and warmth feeling in your joints are the main indication of joint pain. Pain around the joints is normally caused by infection or inflammation if there were no injuries to that part. If you suffer a persistent pain or from viral infection, it is best to consult your doctor as soon as possible.
There are some warning signs a woman can experience when she is heavy with a child. Let’s have a look at those:
- Irritation and enlargement in the joint zone is the main indication.
- There will be an ache and firmness in the hip joint.
- You will be undergoing some difficulties while walking.
- There will be severe ache while moving legs.
- There will be Powerlessness when you stand using single leg.
- You have to struggle every time to get up and to sit yourself.
- There will be continuous ache from the hip to leg joints.
We can’t avoid this joint ache when you are heavy with a infant. But there is some suggestions
- try not to move around
- Your foods/meals should be rich in minerals, proteins and vitamins.
- Try to get help with movement equipment to move from one place to another.
- Don’t eat any medicinal tablets without consulting the doctor.
- Don’t carry the things which are very heavy.
- If the ache is not tolerable then consult with your doctor.
Second Pregnancy Symptoms
Motherhood will bring dramatic and wonderful changes in your life. So whether it is your first time to get pregnant or your second time, each pregnancy brings delight knowing that a human being, a baby, is growing inside your womb. And as a mother, we know that the second pregnancy will display different pregnancy symptoms as compared to the first pregnancy.
Although every pregnancy is different, the second pregnancy may not going to be as difficult as the first for the mother already knows what she would go through in those exciting nine months. She, more or less, already knows what to expect and is already aware of the required preparation during pregnancy and also the symptoms of pregnancy.
Differences of second pregnancy
Some woman will discover that the second pregnancy symptoms will normally different from their first. Since their body has already gone through childbirth, the level of fatigue may be different from what they went through when they carried their first child especially that they are also taking care of their first born while being pregnant.
Some of the biggest challenges of becoming pregnant with your second child is how to handle and manage your time between your work, family, household, and your pregnancy. You may be too preoccupied to properly take care of your health. This could also a reason for anxiety for most women. To eliminate this feeling, you can seek both physical and emotional assistance from your partner.
For second-time moms, below are the three changes that come along with the second pregnancy:
1. The baby moves sooner. Other many differences that a mother will notices is that her baby will start moving a bit sooner as compared to first time. Generally, a first timer mom would feel the baby start kicking on the fifth month but for second-timers, the kicking and moving can be felt in as early as 4 months. This could also be attributed to her knowledge on that her baby is moving inside of her and she can feels it, so she can easily recognize the movements and kicks.
2. You tummy will start to enlarge one month sooner. After giving birth to your first baby, the uterus does not shrink to its original size resulting to your belly expanding immediately.
3. You will now carry the baby in your lower abdomen. This is a result of your first pregnancy. When you first got pregnant, your muscles around your abdominal become weaken. This is nothing to be worried about, though. Carrying your child lower has its upsides and downsides as well. The good thing about this is that it allows you to breathe easily and allows you to also eat comfortably; however, this would make you frequent your visits to the rest room. Most women notice they have to urinate more urgently and frequently over the course of their second pregnancy.
Well now let’s hope that the third pregnancy will yield the same pregnancy symptoms as the first and the second!
Teen Pregnancy Education
We already know who is in “teenage” group is and they are anyone that is in between the ages of thirteen and nineteen, then they are called as teenagers and at this stage teen pregnancy education is very important. If any girl got pregnant in teenage, the term is called teenage pregnancy. Nowadays the number of teenage pregnancy has decreased. But there is another truth behind this. That is the fall in the number of pregnancy due to abortions and contraception’s. The attitude of the people didn’t change. The thing which got changed is, they are adopting newer techniques to avoid pregnancy alone. The teenage pregnancy rate is very much higher in USA, UK and then in Australia. With the yearly increase of teen pregnancy around the world in an alarming state, teen pregnancy education is viewed highly important and should be carried out formally through classes of informally by options provided by health sector through seminars or advertisement.
Many says that they got pregnant accidentally at this age. But this is not only the reason. Certain youngsters do not use the contraceptive options purposely so as to get pregnant and to carry their baby in their stomach.
Risk Factors
The teenage girls who conceived will have to undergo many risks because of their pregnancy. There may be numerous quarrels between the relatives. They may have undergone sex abuse in their younger age and so they became pregnant. These pregnant teenage girls suffer as same as a matured mother. With those sufferings they cannot perform well in their school. Also they may be absent for their schools for a long number of days. They will not be much aware about the maternity. They will not have any support from their family. They will not be having enough resources as they will lose their parents support or not aware of any teen pregnancy education provided by their health sector or government. These are not the entire situation but several of the risks undergone by the teenage girls who are pregnant.
Decisions around Pregnancy
Many teenage girls, after getting pregnant, don’t know what to do. It is not in their planning and also after that they are the one who is going to suffer. They are basically lack of teen pregnancy education. Mostly many girls will go for an abortion and less than 50 percentage girls will let the baby grow in their womb. Among these remaining girls who are letting the baby to grow in their womb, most of the girls will give their baby to others and makes the baby as an adopted child.
All teen girls should be given proper and required teen pregnancy education or information related to the pregnancy. This should be done as early as possible so as the information would be useful for them in making a resolution wether to have a baby now or not. But the true fact is that many teenagers in an ecstasy will do everything and after getting pregnant too they will not ask any advice from elder people. At least they should know that they can’t abort the pregnancy after nine weeks of pregnancy.
Health implications
Mostly teen girls after getting pregnant, because of their shyness of getting pregnant earlier, will not visit the doctors for check-up regularly. Also they will not have proper antenatal care. Without proper antenatal care there are a lot of possibilities getting the child birth, complicated. These complications may affect the teenage mother’s health too.
A teen girl has her complete maturity not on a single day. It takes years for her. Her body will not be good enough to carry a baby before 15. This is the age at which her pelvis gets developed. Getting a child birth before this age will lead to birth complications.
Moreover there is another common issue among the teenage girls which is they are not much aware about pregnancy. After having a sexual intercourse, they will carry on their work without worrying or caring for anything. In the mean time they will get pregnant and when they find that they are pregnant, they would have realized that the time for aborting the pregnancy will be crossed over. Hence there arises a situation that compulsorily they should grow the baby in their womb.
Also teenage girls doesn’t have a proper diet plan and they will not eat properly or in timely fashion. Even if they eat, the amount of food they intake will be very small. When carrying a baby in womb they should eat more nutritious food. Since they will not have this eating habit, it will affect the baby’s health too.
Teenage girls, because of their pregnancy, will lose their family’s support. Also they will try to avoid all their surroundings and then be separated from the world. The help they receive from others is very less. Hence they will be having a worry in their mind that how she is going to grow her baby. This will affect their health tremendously without the proper teen pregnancy education.
Financial Issues
One issue for teenage girls is that as they are pregnant they will lose their education. When education is lost, the life will be ruined as well. Without proper education one cannot get a good paying job. Therefore if the girl lost her education her life will be ruined as she will not be able to get a proper job. Hence she will be affected economically too.
Another cruel factor is that, according to a latest report about the relations of teenage mothers, more than sixty percent of the girls are left alone. They are left alone even by her partner who was responsible for her pregnancy. Therefore a teenage girl loses support from her parents, her relatives and even by her partner. This makes the girl to feel extremely lonely. And to make matter worse, she is affected financially. This financial stress may also make the teenage mother to go in a wrong way to earn money. These factors are responsible for the negative attitude of the teenage mothers.
Implications for the baby
Child born to the teenage mother will be neglected or ignored in the society most of the time. This may be because of their poverty and financial crisis. Also due to money constraints, the mothers may do immoral activities such as child prostitution. This may also lead to neglection of the baby to the society around them.
Support for teenage mothers and their babies
Many young mothers will not complete their education fully. This may be because of them getting isolated from the society. But there is no issue such that the teenage mothers should proceed with their study. They can continue their education anytime or after the birth of her child. Also they should undergo antenatal care. This should be done compulsorily as to maintain the health of both the mother and the baby.
There are also special events or group talks arranged for the young teenage mothers to develop their moral and attitude. These events or group talks help the teenage mothers is mainly to create an awareness and also a positive attitude. Also there are programs which are used to provide the teen pregnancy education to the teenage mothers. Many organizations also provide help for these teenage mothers and their babies.
Preventing teenage pregnancies
It is always be a better way to avoid pregnancy though having a unprotected sexual intercourse. The teenage girls should be taught about the safety measure and the use of protections during intercourse. Contraception should be used for to avoid pregnancy if the girl had a sexual intercourse. If the girl is planning to have sex, then it should be a safe sex so as to avoid the pregnancy.
By long and detailed study about the teenage pregnancies it is clear that teen pregnancy education is vital and should be given to the teen girls. They should be very clear about the contraceptive methods and protected sex. However, the best is to avoid sexual intercourse all together and besides it is illegal and they could be prosecuted by their police or parent could lodge a police report against the male partner.
